Originally set to run through July 28, we've confirmed the ninth and final installment of the series is being shelved. Repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will instead fill the Thursday, 10:00/9:00c hour beginning on said date. No reason for the decision was given.

The news leaves just two episodes - "Boys to Men" (July 14) and "Modern Plagues" (July 21) - yet to air. Network sources indicate there are currently no plans to show the remaining episode on air or online.

As previously reported, "Bites" was set to open this past fall in the aforementioned Thursday, 10:00/9:00c slot. Following a slew of changes in front of and behind the camera, the Peacock opted to hold the series until midseason and cut its 13-episode commitment to nine. The series then ultimately found its way to the lineup last month, the most recent episode of which delivered a modest 1.97 million viewers and a 0.7 rating among adults 18-49.

[7/20/11 - UPDATED! We've subsequently been told there actually isn't a ninth episode per se, rather NBC committed to nine episodes however producers ultimately were only able to deliver enough segments to fill eight.]